In this installment, Colorado State football coach Steve Fairchild answers fans’ questions about the team’s non-conference schedule, the BCS and the state of the Rams during spring football.

Keep an eye out for the next installment, when Olympic figure skater Rachael Flatt answers questions. Suggest a subject and send Q’s in an email to fanmail@denverpost.com

I am very pleased in the direction that CSU football seems to be going in many aspects except scheduling. What is your philosophy with out-of-conference scheduling? That’s a major area where I think CSU needs to be more aggressive and innovative.

– Jon, Los Angeles

Steve Fairchild: Jon, I hear what you and fans like you are saying about our schedules over the next couple years. It’s important to understand that scheduling is complicated. It’s done years in advance and is contingent on a number of factors, such as guarantees, home-and-home contracts, two-for-ones, future dates that work for both schools, etc.

Our athletic director, Paul Kowalczyk, has done a great job at managing these factors and we continue to work on scheduling what you see as more attractive opponents. We have pursued and will continue to pursue BCS-conference opponents. Minnesota is one of those schools we’ve secured. I will tell you that quality home-attendance numbers help boost our ability to bring in those big-name schools. The CU contract, giving us a game with the Buffs through 2020, and in Denver through 2019, is a great thing for both universities and the entire state of Colorado.

It’s great to see CSU reaching out to its fans in some “21st Century” styles. Between your blog, all of the coaches Twittering, and the Reaching The Peak series on The Mountain Network, I’m loving the CSU coverage. What’s been the reaction to your use of social media as a communication tool?

– Kevin, Fort Collins

SF: I have received positive feedback, but maybe it’s because I only talk to family and friends. The only negative feedback I heard was when I caught flak from Tony Kornheiser on that PTI (“Pardon The Interruption”) show on ESPN after I Tweeted about the BCS. But I think Michael Wilbon liked what I said.

In reading your CoachFair blog, you have frequently voiced your feelings about the unfairness of the BCS. In your opinion, what more does the

Mountain West Conference need to do to prove that it truly belongs?

– Scott, Fort Collins

SF: The MWC has already proven it belongs. Two years ago, Utah was the best team in the country at the end of the year. They dominated an Alabama team

that Florida barely beat, and after Utah beat the Crimson Tide, the Utes were the only undefeated team in the country. TCU can year-in and year-out play

with anyone in the country. They beat Clemson and Virginia on the road last year. BYU and Air Force are premier football programs. CSU in the 90s and

early 2000s was a Top-20 program. Even Wyoming went to Knoxville the season before last and beat Tennessee.

The BCS is a joke and very bad for college athletics. Mike Krzyzewski said it best at the Final Four earlier this month, that a team like Butler in

college football would never have a chance to reach that stage. And when the BCS talks about fairness in revenue sharing, don’t believe it; that’s a lie.

What’s the number one thing that has to improve at Colorado State to get the Rams back on the same level as TCU, Utah and BYU at the top of the

Mountain West?

– Ben, Fort Collins

SF: We need to resource, facilitate and staff our football program comparable to our goals. If we want to compete for the MWC championship, then we

need to do what TCU, Utah and BYU are doing in terms of facilities, summer school, resources and staffing.

If we want to compete for a BCS bid, we need to look at those schools and what they are doing in all those areas. We have made great strides the last

two years. (President) Tony Frank and Paul Kowalczyk have been very supportive, but we cannot stop moving forward, or we will have no chance. Colorado

State football can win a national championship. Our football program can be as good as we want it to be. With our academic reputation and all that Fort

Collins and the state of Colorado have to offer, we should take a back seat to no one. We just need to commit to doing it.

Coach Fairchild, CSU has had some tremendous upgrades to our facilities in the last 5-7 years, to include most recently the indoor practice

facility. What is the next facility upgrade scheduled and what would you most like to see upgraded?

– Keith, Woodland Park

SF: I don’t know what is next. Much is needed. Hughes Stadium can be improved in a lot of ways. Our student-athletes need a dining facility. A room to

better recognize members of our CSU Hall of Fame is a must. The square footage of our football office and meeting area is last in the Mountain West

Conference, and our training room can be helped, too. We really need to look at this. You are correct that we have made improvements. Within the last few

years, we’ve added an outstanding press box, indoor practice facility, weight room and academic center, but these have only kept pace with the good

programs out there. There is a lot left to do, and we need to keep moving forward to have any chance to be competitive.

The past two years, we’ve started a fifth-year senior at quarterback and that seemed to set us back each spring looking for a new inexperienced

quarterback. Most of Ram Nation would like to see one of the freshmen either Nico Raneri or Pete Thomas take over the reigns at quarterback this year. How

are these players looking so far and what are the chances of them being the main signal caller this fall?

– Isaac, Fort Collins

Steve Fairchild: We will always play the quarterback who gives the team the best chance to win. Our young quarterbacks have progressed this spring. It

would be ideal to have a situation like Moses Moreno (1993-97) or Matt Newton (1996-2000). These guys spent time in our system before they played. Both

went on to be the conference Offensive Player of the Year.

During your career, you have played for and coached with numerous head coaches. Now that you are into your third year as a head coach, which of

those head coaches do you most identify with in your current role and which of them influenced you the most to be the coach you are today?

– John, Fort Collins

SF: Sonny Lubick, without a doubt. I’ve played for and coached with a lot of great coaches. In the NFL, guys like Gregg Williams, Mike Martz, Dick

Jauron and Kevin Gilbride were all tremendously influential. I have learned from everyone along the way and have been fortunate throughout my career to

work with such talented people. But there is no one quite like Coach Lubick. He is a great leader and communicator, extremely knowledgeable, humble and

caring.

I have read many articles where you have publicly stated the team is not very good and needs a lot of work, especially with the quarterbacks.

Is this an attempt to keep the players working hard and do you think that a little more positive public reinforcement would help or hurt the

team?

– Brock, Fort Collins

SF: Brock, I always try to tell the truth.

Coach, you brought in a fantastic class this year. We know (QB Pete) Thomas and (safety Mike) Orakpo are looking at early playing time. What

are the chances of seeing some of the other true freshmen play this fall?

– Chris, Windsor

SF: Any true freshman that can help our team win will play. We’ll find out once we get those guys practicing on our campus in August. We had three last

How do you think CSU fans can create more of a home-field advantage for the Rams and a harder time on their opponents? The CSU student section

shows up with great force, but the rest of the stadium is quiet and half the seats are occupied. I want Hughes Stadium to be one of the loudest stadiums

in college football. How do we get there?

– Lance, Littleton

SF: The student section has been great. I am so proud of them. They help our team more than they’ll ever know. That’s one of the reasons why when I

came back as head coach I asked our team to begin singing our Fight Song to the student section after every victory.

Lance, I’m with you. I wish we had 40,000-plus fans every Saturday. The 1994 CSU-Utah game at Hughes Stadium was the most electric setting I’ve ever

been a part of, and I’ve coached in NFL playoff games. We’ve had some great crowds, like our Utah game last year; it just has to become consistent.

We need to have the Denver fans connect or reconnect with CSU and Fort Collins. There’s a Denver initiative spearheaded by Brett Anderson that is

trying to do just that, so I ask our alums and fans in the Metro Area to reach out and discover what opportunities are out there, and by all means, come

to our games.

I know the noon starts aren’t ideal, but that was out of our control. People drive 90 minutes from all over Los Angeles to watch a USC or UCLA game. If we do this right, we should be talking stadium expansion.

Other than the obvious point of winning more games, how would you attract more of the Denver-based CSU Alumni to come to Fort Collins for a

game?

–Bryan, Arvada

As you stated, winning is paramount. I think Denver is key to our success, because more than 43,000 CSU alumni live in the Metro Area, and more than

half of our state’s high-school grads originate from that area. CSU and Fort Collins are a wonderful place to spend a Saturday in the fall. CSU didn’t

reach out to Denver in the past, but that’s all changed. The university has been working hard to create and maintain a strong presence in Denver. We have

a big group of staff down there who live and work in Denver, trying to build a stronger CSU network in the metro area. Athletics has a Denver-based staff

member, Ken Winstead.

Believe me, we’re investing a lot of resources. We’re doing everything we can to win as a football program, and Denver is a critical part of any

success we have. I know you’re coming to our games, Bryan. We need more fans like you, especially in Denver.

Coach, what has been your most memorable/favorite victory as head coach so far?

-Ryan, Longmont

SF: Ryan, it has to be the New Mexico Bowl victory over Fresno State. It was so great to see that senior class get rewarded. Our team played with so

much heart. Gartrell Johnson was a true warrior. No other player in bowl history had more combined rushing and receiving yards than Gartrell that day

(375).

With the backfield loaded with options (Raymond Carter, Lou Greenwood, Leonard Mason, John Mosure, and Chris Nwoke, and this doesn’t even

include in the incoming freshman) — what do you have in mind to get them opportunities to utilize their game-changing abilities? Will we continue to see

some Wildcat formations, or getting guys like Greenwood and Mosure into the slot?

–Mike, Seattle

SF: We need to find a role for any play-maker we have on offense. We have some talented running backs and we need to get them the ball.

I notice your O-line is a little lighter than usual. Can this become a strength for this team, because they may have the foot speed to do

different things that someone at 320 pounds could not do? Or do you wish you had more girth up front with your highly touted stable of running

backs?

–Gunnar, Thornton

SF: Gunnar, our line last year was as good as any in college football. There were four draftable NFL players on that line. We will have to develop this

year at that position, no question. There will not be the experience that we had the last two years. I do like our talent level and believe we will be a

good offensive line before the end of this year, and through next season.

How do you handle the fickle nature of Colorado sports fans? Does it make it difficult to recruit versus programs with continual support during

winning and losing times?

–Jeff, Englewood

SF: Jeff, we just need to put a good product on the field.

Last year, it seemed like the team would start out strong and jump out to a big lead in the first half only to fade in the second. The offense

would fail to sustain drives and put points on the board, and the defense would wear down. What do you think the causes were, and how do you go about

correcting it?

– Adam, Littleton

SF: You are correct. We need to be more consistent, and put games away, like with our loss at Idaho. Or make a play late to win, what we didn’t do when

we lost 24-17 to Utah. We didn’t do things like that last year. I saw us doing a lot more of that in that first year, 2008. We need to improve in those

areas in 2010. That’s why we create game situations in practice.

By the time we finish spring ball, we’ll have practiced every conceivable situation we could see in a game. We’re working hard on getting those issues

straightened out.

First of all, great recruiting class. It seemed the defense was hit hard with injuries last year and really struggled down the stretch. Field

position did not help their cause. What will it take to improve the kicking game and the D this year and what players are standing out?

– Matt, Denver

SF: Well, Matt, if there’s one reason to appreciate injuries, it was that injuries allowed several players on defense the opportunity to get solid

experience last year. We had a lot of guys step in and play. We do need to kick and cover kickoffs better. Ben DeLine is having a good spring and as we

become more athletic on defense, with better and better recruiting classes, we will cover all kicks much better.

One of the main problems for CSU since 2002 has been the third-down defense. I don’t have a number but I’d bet that over that period CSU has

been one of the worst third-down defensive teams in the nation. What is the plan to improve the 3rd down defense to help the defense get off the

field?

– Nate, Arlington, Virg.

SF: Nate, how are things in the nation’s capital? After every game when I walk off the field, I want to know a few things on the stat sheet, and one is

what we did on third down, both offensively and defensively. When we beat CU last year, we got pressure on the passer from our front four, and that was

critical to that win. Pressuring the QB is an area we must improve. If we can do that, our third-down defense will be much better.

Coach Fairchild, I know we’ll see some new faces on the defensive line and in the secondary this year. Could you comment on the defensive

lineman, corners and safeties, and how they’ve looked so far this spring?

– Tim, Lakewood

SF: Our defensive line right now in spring ball is led by Guy Miller, Ty Whittier, C.J. James and Nuku Latu. Cory Macon and Zach Tiedgen played last

year, too, but they’re not able to participate in spring practice. There are some younger players who are going to get into the rotation and you’ll be

hearing about them soon enough I’m sure.

In the secondary, Blu is our leader. Momo Thomas and DeAngelo Wilkinson are experienced corners, and Ivory Herd has played some at safety. I like our

secondary a lot.

I realize that coaching takes many hours and travel time away from your family. What is the best way that you have found to stay connected with

your wife and your daughters (especially when they were younger)

– Jennifer, Fort Collins

SF: My wife, Nancy, is special. I am lucky she agreed to marry me 28 years ago. I am sure she has often wondered why she did. Football coaching is

time-consuming, but you can include your family. Nancy has always been involved in my career. I always had our girls hanging around practices or summer

camps. I think my career has brought us closer as a family. I remember calling plays on the sidelines a few years back with the Buffalo Bills. My

daughter, Jill, was on the sidelines running the still photos (taken from the birds-eye view of defensive formations) to the coaches and players. At the

same time in that game, my other daughter, Lindsey, was working for the training staff. We were playing the Tennessee Titans, 76,000 fans in the stands.

Both of my girls were there with their dad. I will never forget that day.

You have arrived on the Colorado State campus three times in your life. First as a scholar-athlete in the late ’70’s, then as an assistant on

Coach Lubick’s staff in the ’90’s, and finally three years ago as head coach. Is there a location on campus that has special significance for you, that

you would suggest to a potential recruit they see on their visit?

– Joni, Mead

SF: Joni, I love the Oval here on our campus. CSU is beautiful, and the Oval is the crown jewel. When Pete Thomas was on our campus, our university

president, Tony Frank, walked with Pete and his family on the Oval. Sometimes, I sneak out of the office for a walk and find myself at the Oval. But the

true beauty of Colorado State is the people. Great faculty, great students.

Steve Fairchild, in his third season as head football coach at Colorado State, is the 19th coach Rams’ history. This is his third stint at CSU, after three seasons as quarterback (1978-80) and eight as an assistant coach (1993-2000). He also spent seven seasons coaching in the NFL, including five as offensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.